The pursuit of making everything smaller has led to significant progress in various fields, including micro-optics. Two-photon polymerization (TPP) 3D printing is an important manufacturing technique that enables these advancements. However, errors in the nanometer range can have significant consequences, making it essential to understand and compensate for systematic errors in the printing process. These errors stem from inherent imperfections in the optomechanics of any printer. Researchers have introduced a simplified optical setup for measuring tilt and curvature errors in TPP printing.
The core idea was to print an optical structure without compensating for the errors, observing the effect of these imperfections on the image produced when illuminating the structure with a laser. A computer algorithm was then used to reconstruct the errors, enabling compensation in subsequent prints. The test showed that a reconstruction of tilt and curvature errors is possible, with associated uncertainties lower than expected errors.
The optical setup method also showed a clear noise reduction when comparing the images of the uncompensated print to those of the compensated print. This research introduces a cost-effective and accurate method for correcting tilt and curvature errors in TPP printing, offering a practical solution for labs and facilities that may find traditional error correction methods prohibitively expensive. By streamlining the TPP printing process, this methodology broadens accessibility to a diverse spectrum of researchers, enabling advancements in critical domains such as micro-optics, medical technology, and micromechanical elements.
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